God’s Promise Fulfilled
This has been a beautiful day here in Fort Collins. Warm temperatures, nice in the shade with a cool breeze. Reminds me why I like Colorado. Our day was pretty much the routine Saturday chores around the house. We really enjoy our Fort Collins home. We are still learning about proper care for roses, but they have bloomed again in spite of us.
I must be improving in ways that I don’t realize. Last night we sat on our patio enjoying the great temperature and peaceful atmosphere. As I looked at the yard I began to feel that I needed to take advantage of the nice weather and early evening daylight to do some more yard work. I then realized, it has been a long time since I’ve had the “when I relax, I feel guilty” sensation. Perhaps that is one tendency from my past that doesn’t need to be resurrected. Debbie would say so anyway.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “…the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass. Joshua 21:43.45
It started with God’s call to Abraham to go to a land that the Lord would give him and that he would become a great nation with children as numerous as the stars in the heavens. “And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.” (Genesis 17:8)
God began fulfilling the promise through Isaac and then Jacob. As Jacob began his journey to Egypt the Lord appeared to him, “… God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation.” (Genesis 46:2,3)
Four Hundred years in Egypt and then God calls Moses from the backside of the desert. God judges Egypt and God’s people leave Egypt with the wealth of the land in their hand. Rebellion and unbelief results in a forty year trek around the wilderness until a generation who refused to believe in God’s promises was gone.
The conquest of nations begins with Moses and then continues with Joshua and the crossing of the Jordan and the great victory at Jericho, as the first of many the Lord would provide. Now Joshua is old and the portions of the promise land is given to the tribes of Israel. God has fulfilled His promise. It has taken hundreds of years, perhaps more ups than downs. Great miracles. The cloud of God’s presence, the provision of manna from the Lord until they began to occupy the promise land.
God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had been fulfilled. Now He was making another promise to the “generation of occupiers.”
“The Lord your God will push them back before you and drive them out of your sight. And you shall possess their land, just as the Lord your God promised you. Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left…One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you. Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God.” (Joshua 23:5,6,10)
God is faithful to fulfill His promises. He works on His time schedule. He is not thwarted by the failures of people. He looks for the faithful who will obey and do His work.
God’s promises are received through obedience. In our walk with God there is a “cause and effect” that we can observe. For example, “if we confess our sins, He forgives.” “If we draw close to Him, He draws close to us.” God’s promises are actualized when we respond in faith and obedience. When Joshua divided the land, from God’s perspective it was a “done deal.” However, the fulfillment of that promise required the Children of Israel to move into their possession, not looking at obstacles but to the Lord. God is faithful to do His part, the question is “will we do ours?”
Just as the Lord was faithful to fulfill His promise the the patriarchs, He is faithful to fulfill His promise to bring all His Children to a promise land, we call heaven.
“… if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:3) “I saw a new heaven and a new earth….I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” (Revelation 21:1,3)
This is one promise we will not have to work or conquer to possess. Christ as done it all for us. We gain entrance to this promise in the same way that the Children of Israel were to enter their promise land: faith, trust, obedience and love for God.